Wine festival pours into Carroll County

While it's been a tough year for Maryland farmers, grape growers said it's been one of the best ever.

The Carroll County Farm Museum will host the wine festival this weekend where 37 wineries from across the state will feature over 200 wines.

"This is the perfect opportunity. The wine festival is the best platform that we could've asked for to be involved with all the other local wineries and the people who love the Maryland wine," said Ashli Johnson.

Old Westminster Winery is tucked away off Route 27. It's a small, family-owned winery just 7,600 vines on six acres.

"Our goal here is to grow and produce premiums wines in Maryland that really reflect the soils in our area well," CEO Drew Baker said.

The winery was established two years and is run by the Baker siblings, Drew and Ashli, who are just out of college, and their sister Lisa, who was visiting vineyards in California. Drew said it's been a great summer for grape growing in this part of the state.

"It's been a fantastic summer for grapes. We're about two weeks ahead of schedule, which is a good place to be. It was a little wet there the beginning of September, but the past 10 days and the next 10 days look fantastic," Baker said.

Not yet open to the public, Old Westminster relies now on its wine club, something made possible by Maryland's new shipping laws, which have been in effect for nearly a year. Kevin Atticks with the Maryland Wineries Association said shipping is gangbusters.

"It's huge. Not every winery includes a business model that includes a tasting room or going to events to sell wine, so being able to have a wine club and to ship two or three times a year to customers is great," Atticks said.

"It's a blast. It's a lot of work at times, but we do have a great time," Drew Baker said.

The family is looking forward to the Maryland Wine Festival on Saturday and Sunday. Visitors will have unlimited tasting with the price of admission and that's not all.

"We have a lot of new crafters. We have a lot of new demonstrations going on and we have a new location on the premier tent so it's going to be a great time," Bonnie Hood said.

Shuttle services will be also be available at the event. Admission is free for children 12 and under.

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